2 Samuel 2:30 Meaning and Explanation
“And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Joab regroups his men and finds that only nineteen, besides Asahel, are missing from David's servants.
What Does 2 Samuel 2:30 Mean?
Joab calls off the pursuit and gathers his men to take account of the cost. When the muster is complete, David's servants are found to have lost nineteen men, besides Asahel, whose death the narrator names separately because of its weight. The roll-call measures the day's price in lives.
Asahel is counted apart from the rest, his loss too personal to fold into a number. Behind every tally of the fallen are names and families and grief. Scripture honors the dead by remembering them, not least the one whose death we have watched unfold. Even a comparatively light loss is no light thing; each life lost in the strife of brothers is a sorrow before God.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 2:30
What does 2 Samuel 2:30 mean?
Joab regroups his men and finds that only nineteen, besides Asahel, are missing from David's servants.